Depuis ses débuts, POP Montréal fournit une plate-forme internationale aux artistes indépendants émergents et met en valeur la scène culturelle clandestine. POP Montréal, qui en est maintenant à sa 18e édition, est passé d’un festival de cinq jours à environ 250 événements dans le monde. En regardant de plus près les vedettes précédentes de POP, vous pouvez commencer à reconnaître à quel point le festival a joué un rôle dans la présentation de ce que nous identifions maintenant comme des noms familiers. Alors que POP Montréal continue de toucher de nouveaux publics, le festival reste ancré dans la communauté autour de laquelle il a été construit. D'une certaine manière, le festival a toujours été enraciné dans l'amour; amour pour sa communauté, amour pour les artistes indépendants, amour pour la musique. Dans l’intérêt de la Saint-Valentin, faisons un voyage dans le temps et explorons les différentes expressions de l’amour, de la nostalgie et du chagrin de certains des héros passés de POP.

2002

“Autotomy” par The Dears

POP Montréal a fait ses débuts à l’été 2002, alors que The Dears figuraient parmi les groupes comme Interpol, Broken Social Scene et The Walkmen. Le titre «Autotomy», extrait du disque «Orchestral Noir Romantique», est sorti en 2001 sur Shipbuilding Records. La chanson est apocalyptique dans ses nuances sombres et catastrophiques, qui s'opposent aux paroles romantiques et sentimentales, une subversion parfaite de Britpop et du nouveau romantique des années 80.

“Papier mache or crazy alongside acts like glue
We stick together me and you
And while the world falls apart
You've got my soul I've got your heart”

2003

“Jellybones” par The Unicorns

The Unicorns se distinguent dans la programmation de POP Montréal en 2003 en tant que groupe incroyablement unique, aussi fascinant et surnaturel que leur nom. Leur album « Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? », paru pour la première fois sur Alien8 Recordings, possède une naïveté attachante qui enveloppe des thèmes plus profonds comme la peur et l’acceptation de la mort. "Jellybones" fait allusion à l'angoisse, au désespoir et, bien… au cas de "jellybones" que l'amour peut souvent provoquer.

“Jelly, jelly, jelly, jelly
Jelly, jelly, jelly, jelly
Jelly, jellybones...
But this is love, so we'll survive
This is love, so we'll survive
But this is love, so we'll survive
This is love, so we'll survive”

2004

“Take me anywhere” by Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara’s timing at POP Montreal couldn’t have been more perfect, with their Juno Award-winning album “So Jealous” having been released on September 14th 2004, only two weeks before the festival. “Take me anywhere” perfectly sums up the feeling of accepting unconditional love despite all of the imperfections and flaws one might attribute to themselves.

2005

“I think I’m in love” by Beck

Beck’s presence at POP Montreal in 2005, according to Exclaim; “summed up much of what makes the festival work: healthy eclecticism, nods to the new”. A year later, Beck came out with his seventh studio album “The Information”, merging hip-hop songs with Beck’s classic stripped down introspective style. “I think I’m in love” perfectly captures the uneasiness of love over a steady beat and an of array experimental sounds.

2006

“Saltwater” by Beach House

Released early October of 2006 through Carpark Records, Beach Houses’ self-titled album was named 16th on Pitchfork's Best Albums of that year. “Saltwater” incorporates all of the dreamy and melancholic elements that we love about beach house’s music.

“Love you all the time
Even though
You're not mine
Love you all the time
Dreaming in the saltwater
Timing's gone all bad
Broken thing and a broken wing”

2007

“This Thing About You” by Miracle Fortress

Released by Secret City Records in 2007, “This Thing About You” exudes an admirable certainty about love that can’t be held back by doubt or fear.

2008

“Undeclared” by The Dodos

POP’s 2008 lineup featured acts that pushed the envelope in many ways, featuring genre bending and experimental acts like The Death Set and Chad VanGaalen. The Dodos’ album “Visiter” came out in March of 2008, which featured “Undeclared”. The song addresses the unspoken longing and desire for someone with its simple and compelling lyrics.

2009

“Sweet Sixteen” by Think About Life

“Sweet Sixteen” is an ode to young love and the uncertainty that comes with it. Their album “Family” makes a spectacular contribution to the era infectiously catchy indie dance music and lo-fi electro funk in Montreal.

“It’s not quite quite what I expected from you
“I never thought that you even even liked me
But it was just a little kiss, little kiss, little kiss
Now I’m ready for more, we made out on the pier”.

2010

“Offend Maggie” by Deerhoof

Like love itself, what makes Deerhoof such a magnificent band is their ability to create the unexpected. In a 2010 recap of the festival for Maclean's, Michael Barclay wrote: “Deerhoof embodied the cultural collision and iconoclastic spirit that makes POP Montreal one of the greatest musical holidays in the world”. There truly would have been no better time to see such the dynamic and charmingly weird band than at POP Montreal.

2011

“Night After Night” by Laura Marling

Laura Marling’s music seems to delve deeper than just the trivial dilemmas of everyday life. Rather, her songs explore more complex themes through the embodiment of characters and archetypes that exist outside of herself, making her music all the more timeless.

2012

“Somebody That I used to know” by Gotye

“Somebody that I used to know” perfectly sums up the grievance of a past relationship. The song is confrontational in its delivery and speaks to the absurdity of going from lovers to strangers in modern day romance.

2013

“That Feeling” by DIANA

“Perpetual Surrender” might just be the perfect electro-pop album. The track “That Feeling” simply feels romantic in its smoothness. Its catchiness is infectious, as vocalist Carmen Elle infuses the track with a certain cinematic quality.

2014

“Let’s Play/Statue of a Man” by Mutual Benefit

Although this track is not explicitly romantic, it is certainly filled with love - a love that Jordan Lee has masterfully weaved throughout the album “Love’s Crushing Diamond”. “Let’s Play/Statue of a Man” speaks of unwavering love that can be endless, whether “tattered, strained, or torn”.

2015

“You’re the one” by Kaytranada

“You’re the one” delves into the slippery slope of falling head over heels for someone you know isn't right for you. After playing POP Montreal in 2015, Kaytranada took home the Polaris Prize the following year for 99.9%.

“You know I want you, baby, you know I do
I'll give you my heart and the rest is up to you
You ain't no good for me, I know it's true
But you don't have to be”

2016

“Shut Up Kiss Me” by Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen’s performance came shortly after the release of her Album “My Woman”. Olsen’s repetitive and commanding lyrics “Shut Up Kiss Me” make for a humorous yet compelling song that tells us there’s no time for hesitation.

2017

“Only Girl” by Kali Uchis

Kali Uchis is the Queen of Introspective love songs, amongst other things. In “Only Girl”, she explores issues of trust and respect within her romantic relationships.

2018

“A Slice of Lemon” by Molly Nilsson

Here we are in 2018. But somehow, Molly Nilsson always makes us feel like it’s 1985. “A slice of Lemon” feels both extremely personal yet far away, filtered through vocals that create a distance. Molly Nilsson’s latest album, “Twenty Twenty” is an optimistic glance at the future, which has the power to ignite a love for humanity during trying times.